Multiplication Meltdown...and Wacky Wednesday

Today we all realized a very scary fact.  4th grade math is going to be extremely PAINFUL for everyone if a bunch of 4th graders I know don't learn their BASIC MULTIPLICATION FACTS!  Whoa--in a one minute timed test (not for a grade), I had students who hardly got any correct (some only got one correct answer...).  We looked through our math book at what is coming our way (4-digit times 1-digit; 2-digit times 2-digit)...and we officially panicked.  I am declaring from experience that MEMORIZING basic multiplication facts will make all of our lives much much better.  I beg of you...please quiz your child!  Find multiplication games online (take them to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/ and choose from a variety of multiplication drill games--we looked at a few in class).  Make flash cards together, or purchase an inexpensive set from the Dollar Tree or Walmart.  But please oh please make this a homework priority!  I suggested just ten minutes a night would be better than nothing at all.  (Can you tell I'm a bit panicked?)

Tonight's homework is:

• Reading: Log; Book Project is due Thursday 9/22/11 (a letter came home about this today)
• Spelling: study words- test Friday
• Math: 10 minutes of multiplication drill (or more!!!)

As always, thanks for your support!
SJP